From bird droppings to holiday kisses: How we ended up under the mistletoe
Mistletoe's name derives from Anglo-Saxon words meaning 'bird droppings on a twig', reflecting bird-mediated seed dispersal and ancient winter-solstice traditions.
Trees actively engineer ecosystems—manipulating water, air, soil, fire, and animal behavior—while early photography arose through hazardous, ingenious experimental techniques.
Watch this cucumber squirt out its seeds at ballistic speeds
The squirting cucumber, also known as Ecballium elaterium, propels its seeds explosively as internal pressure builds up, forcing a stream of liquid containing seed pods out at high speeds.